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ABV14.5%

Vintage2004

The Mill Race at Vergelegen was constructed during Governor Adriaan van der Stel's tenure on the estate to divert water from the Lourens River to the mill wheel. Sourced from north and north-westerly vineyards at Vergelegen, Somerset West.

The grapes were harvested into 500kg bins and then de-stemmed and crushed. Fermentation took place at temperatures of 30c for the Cabernet Sauvignon and 26c - 28c for the Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The young wine was then macerated on the skins for a further three weeks.

Pressing was very light and the wine was run into small 225 litre French oak barrels for Malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured for 18 months in wood, followed by an egg white fining and bottling.

Drinking well now but will improve with further maturation for 4-6 years.

Attractive dark ruby. The nose shows ripe berry, plum, chocolate and coffee flavours. There is also a hint of mint, spice and pencil shavings. The tannins are fine grained with great fruit-wood integration.